List of philosophers born in the seventeenth century
Encyclopedia
Philosophers born in the 17th century (and others important in the history of philosophy), listed alphabetically:
See also:
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- Note: This list has a minimal criteria for inclusion and the relevance to philosophy of some individuals on the list is disputed.
See also:
- List of philosophers born in the centuries BC
- List of philosophers born in the 1st through 10th centuries
- List of philosophers born in the 11th through 14th centuries
- List of philosophers born in the 15th and 16th centuries
- List of philosophers born in the 17th century
- List of philosophers born in the 18th century
- List of philosophers born in the 19th century
- List of philosophers born in the 20th century
A
- Firmin Abauzit, (1679–1767)
- Yves Marie AndréYves Marie AndréYves Marie André , also known as le Père André, was a French Jesuit mathematician, philosopher, and essayist.André entered the Society of Jesus in 1693. Although distinguished in his scholastic studies, he adhered to Gallicanism and Jansenism and was thus unsuitable for responsible office...
, (1675–1764) - Antoine ArnauldAntoine ArnauldAntoine Arnauld — le Grand as contemporaries called him, to distinguish him from his father — was a French Roman Catholic theologian, philosopher, and mathematician...
, (1612–1694)12* - Mary AstellMary AstellMary Astell was an English feminist writer and rhetorician. Her advocacy of equal educational opportunities for women has earned her the title "the first English feminist."-Life and career:...
, (1666–1731)
B
- John BalguyJohn BalguyJohn Balguy was an English divine and philosopher.-Early years:He was born at Sheffield and educated at the Sheffield Grammar School and at St John's College, Cambridge, graduated BA in 1706, was ordained in 1710, and in 1711 obtained the small living of Lamesley and Tanfield...
, (1686–1748) - Pierre BaylePierre BaylePierre Bayle was a French philosopher and writer best known for his seminal work the Historical and Critical Dictionary, published beginning in 1695....
, (1647–1706)12 - Richard BentleyRichard BentleyRichard Bentley was an English classical scholar, critic, and theologian. He was Master of Trinity College, Cambridge....
, (1662–1742) - George BerkeleyGeorge BerkeleyGeorge Berkeley , also known as Bishop Berkeley , was an Irish philosopher whose primary achievement was the advancement of a theory he called "immaterialism"...
, (1685–1753)12 - François BernierFrançois BernierFrançois Bernier was a French physician and traveller. He was born at Joué-Etiau in Anjou. He was the personal physician of the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb for around 12 years during his stay in India....
, (1620–1688) - Hugh BinningHugh BinningHugh Binning was a Scottish philosopher. He became regent and professor of philosophy at the University of Glasgow in 1646, aged 19, a follower of James Dalrymple...
, (1627–1653) - Samuel BoldSamuel BoldSamuel Bold was an English clergyman and controversialist, a supporter of the arguments of John Locke for religious toleration.-Life:...
, (1649–1737) - Robert BoyleRobert BoyleRobert Boyle FRS was a 17th century natural philosopher, chemist, physicist, and inventor, also noted for his writings in theology. He has been variously described as English, Irish, or Anglo-Irish, his father having come to Ireland from England during the time of the English plantations of...
, (1627–1691)12 - Peter BrownePeter BrownePeter Browne , Irish divine and bishop of Cork and Ross, was born in County Dublin, not long after the Restoration.He entered Trinity College, Dublin, in 1682, and after ten years' residence obtained a fellowship...
, (1666–1735) - Thomas BrowneThomas BrowneSir Thomas Browne was an English author of varied works which reveal his wide learning in diverse fields including medicine, religion, science and the esoteric....
, (1605–1682) - Claude BuffierClaude BuffierClaude Buffier , French philosopher, historian and educationalist, was born in Poland, of French parents, who returned to France, and settled at Rouen, soon after his birth....
, (1661–1737) - Richard BurthoggeRichard BurthoggeRichard Burthogge [sometimes spelled Borthoge, Burthog, Burthoggius] was an English physician, magistrate and philosopher.-Life:...
, (1638–1704) - Joseph ButlerJoseph ButlerJoseph Butler was an English bishop, theologian, apologist, and philosopher. He was born in Wantage in the English county of Berkshire . He is known, among other things, for his critique of Thomas Hobbes's egoism and John Locke's theory of personal identity...
, (1692–1752)12
C
- Gershom CarmichaelGershom CarmichaelGershom Carmichael was a Scottish philosopher.Gershom Carmichael was a Scottish subject born in London, the son of Alexander Charmichael, a Church of Scotland minister who had been banished by the Scottish privy council for his religious opinions...
, (c. 1672-1729) - Margaret CavendishMargaret CavendishMargaret Cavendish, Duchess of Newcastle-upon-Tyne was an English aristocrat, a prolific writer, and a scientist. Born Margaret Lucas, she was the youngest sister of prominent royalists Sir John Lucas and Sir Charles Lucas...
, (1623–1673) - Walter CharletonWalter CharletonWalter Charleton was an English writer. According to Jon Parkin, he was "the main conduit for the transmission of Epicurean ideas to England".-Life:...
, (1619–1707) - William ChillingworthWilliam ChillingworthWilliam Chillingworth was a controversial English churchman.-Early life:He was born in Oxford, where his father served as mayor; William Laud was his godfather. In June 1618 he became a scholar of Trinity College, Oxford, of which he was made a fellow in June 1628...
, (1602–1644) - Samuel ClarkeSamuel Clarkethumb|right|200px|Samuel ClarkeSamuel Clarke was an English philosopher and Anglican clergyman.-Early life and studies:...
, (1675–1729)12 - Johannes ClaubergJohannes ClaubergJohannes Clauberg was a German theologian and philosopher. Clauberg was the founding Rector of the first University of Duisburg, where he taught from 1655 to 1665...
, (1622–1665) - Catherine Trotter CockburnCatherine Trotter CockburnCatharine Trotter Cockburn was a novelist, dramatist, and philosopher.-Life:Born to Scottish parents living in London,Trotter was raised Protestant but converted to Roman Catholicism at an early age...
, (1679–1749) - Arthur CollierArthur CollierArthur Collier was an English Anglican priest and philosopher.-Early life:Collier was born at the rectory of Steeple Langford, Wiltshire...
, (1680–1732) - Anthony CollinsAnthony CollinsAnthony Collins , was an English philosopher, and a proponent of deism.-Life and Writings:...
, (1676–1729)12 - Lady Anne Finch Conway, (1631–1679)12
- Geraud de CordemoyGéraud de CordemoyGéraud de Cordemoy, a French philosopher, historian and lawyer. He is mainly known for his works in metaphysics and for his theory of language. -Biography:...
, (1626–1684) - Jean-Pierre de CrousazJean-Pierre de CrousazJean-Pierre de Crousaz was a Swiss theologian and philosopher. He is now remembered more for his letters of commentary than his formal works....
, (1663–1750) - Ralph CudworthRalph CudworthRalph Cudworth was an English philosopher, the leader of the Cambridge Platonists.-Life:Born at Aller, Somerset, he was educated at Emmanuel College, Cambridge, gaining his MA and becoming a Fellow of Emmanuel in 1639. In 1645, he became master of Clare Hall and professor of Hebrew...
, (1617–1688)12 - Nathaniel CulverwelNathaniel CulverwelNathaniel Culverwell , alternative spellings Nathanael or Culverwell) was an English author and theologian, born in Middlesex. He was baptized on 14 January 1619 at the church of St. Margaret Moses where his father was rector...
, (1619–1651) - Richard CumberlandRichard Cumberland (philosopher)Richard Cumberland was an English philosopher, and bishop of Peterborough from 1691. In 1672, he published his major work, De legibus naturae , propounding utilitarianism and opposing the egoistic ethics of Thomas Hobbes.Cumberland was a member of the latitudinarian movement, along with his friend...
, (1631?-1718)
D
- John Theophilus DesaguliersJohn Theophilus DesaguliersJohn Theophilus Desaguliers was a natural philosopher born in France. He was a member of the Royal Society of London beginning 29 July 1714. He was presented with the Royal Society's highest honour, the Copley Medal, in 1734, 1736 and 1741, with the 1741 award being for his discovery of the...
, (1683–1744) - Robert Desgabets, (1610–1678)
- Kenelm DigbyKenelm DigbySir Kenelm Digby was an English courtier and diplomat. He was also a highly reputed natural philosopher, and known as a leading Roman Catholic intellectual and Blackloist. For his versatility, Anthony à Wood called him the "magazine of all arts".-Early life and career:He was born at Gayhurst,...
, (1603–1665) - Humphry DittonHumphry DittonHumphry Ditton was an English mathematician.-Life:Ditton was born at Salisbury. He studied theology, and was for some years a dissenting minister at Tonbridge, but on the death of his father he devoted himself to the congenial study of mathematics...
, (1675–1715)
E
- Elisabeth of BohemiaElisabeth of Bohemia, Princess PalatineElisabeth of the Palatinate , also known as Elisabeth of Bohemia, was the eldest daughter of Frederick V, who was briefly elected King of Bohemia, and Elizabeth Stuart. She ruled the Herford Abbey as Princess-Abbess Elizabeth III...
, (1618–1680)
F
- Michelangelo FardellaMichelangelo FardellaMichelangelo Fardella was an Italian scientist.Fardella was born at Trapani, Sicily, and died in Naples. He was a member of the Order of Saint-François, where he excelled in physics and mathematics, and was both the chair of philosophy in Modena and of astronomy and philosophy in Padoue...
, (1646–1718) - François de Salignac de la Mothe-FénelonFrançois de Salignac de la Mothe-FénelonFrançois de Salignac de la Mothe Fénelon was a Sulpician missionary in New France. He was the half-brother of François Fénelon, Archbishop of Cambrai and ten years older....
, (1651–1715) - Bernard le Bovier de FontenelleBernard le Bovier de FontenelleBernard Le Bovier de Fontenelle , also called Bernard Le Bouyer de Fontenelle, was a French author.Fontenelle was born in Rouen, France and died in Paris just one month before his 100th birthday. His mother was the sister of great French dramatists Pierre and Thomas Corneille...
, (1657–1757) - Simon FoucherSimon FoucherSimon Foucher was a French polemic philosopher. His philosophical standpoint was one of Academic skepticism: he did not agree with dogmatism, but didn't resort to Pyrrhonism, either.-Life:...
, (1644–1696)
G
- Gadadhara Bhattacharya, (1604–1709)
- John GayJohn GayJohn Gay was an English poet and dramatist and member of the Scriblerus Club. He is best remembered for The Beggar's Opera , set to music by Johann Christoph Pepusch...
, (1685–1732) - Arnold GeulincxArnold GeulincxArnold Geulincx was a Flemish philosopher. He was one of the followers of René Descartes who tried to work out more detailed versions of a generally Cartesian philosophy...
, (1624–1669)12 - Joseph GlanvillJoseph GlanvillJoseph Glanvill was an English writer, philosopher, and clergyman. Not himself a scientist, he has been called "the most skillful apologist of the virtuosi", or in other words the leading propagandist for the approach of the English natural philosophers of the later 17th century.-Life:He was...
, (1636–1680) - Baltasar Gracián y Morales, (1601–1658)
- Guido GrandiGuido Grandithumb|Guido GrandiDom Guido Grandi, O.S.B. Cam., was an Italian monk, priest, philosopher, mathematician, and engineer.-Life:...
, (1671–1742)
H
- Han Wonjin, (1682–1751)
- James HarringtonJames HarringtonJames Harrington was an English political theorist of classical republicanism, best known for his controversial work, The Commonwealth of Oceana .-Early life:...
, (1611–1677) - Franciscus Mercurius van HelmontFranciscus Mercurius van HelmontFranciscus Mercurius van Helmont was a Flemish alchemist and writer, the son of Jan Baptist van Helmont...
, (1614–1698) - Huang ZongxiHuang ZongxiHuang Zongxi , courtesy name Taichong , was the name of a Chinese naturalist, political theorist, philosopher, and soldier during the latter part of the Ming dynasty into the early part the Qing.-Biography:...
(or ), (1610–1695) - Pierre Daniel HuetPierre Daniel HuetPierre Daniel Huet was a French churchman and scholar, editor of the Delphin Classics, founder of the Academie du Physique in Caen and Bishop of Soissons from 1685 to 1689 and afterwards of Avranches.-Life:...
, (1630–1721) - Francis HutchesonFrancis Hutcheson (philosopher)Francis Hutcheson was a philosopher born in Ireland to a family of Scottish Presbyterians who became one of the founding fathers of the Scottish Enlightenment....
, (1694–1746)12 - Christiaan Huygens, (1629–1695)
K
- Kaibara Ekiken, (1630–1740)
- Lord KamesHenry Home, Lord KamesHenry Home, Lord Kames was a Scottish advocate, judge, philosopher, writer and agricultural improver. A central figure of the Scottish Enlightenment, a founder member of the Philosophical Society of Edinburgh, and active in the Select Society, his protégés included James Boswell, David Hume and...
, (1696–1782) - Kumazawa Banzan, (1619–1691)
L
- Louis de La ForgeLouis de La ForgeLouis de La Forge was a French philosopher who in his Tractatus de mente humana expounded a doctrine of occasionalism...
, (1632–1666) - William LawWilliam LawWilliam Law was an English cleric, divine and theological writer.-Early life:Law was born at Kings Cliffe, Northamptonshire in 1686. In 1705 he entered as a sizar at Emmanuel College, Cambridge; in 1711 he was elected fellow of his college and was ordained...
, (1686–1761) - Jean Le ClercJean Leclerc (theologian)Jean Le Clerc, also Johannes Clericus was a Swiss theologian and biblical scholar. He was famous for promoting exegesis, or critical interpretation of the Bible, and was a radical of his age...
, (1657–1737) - Antoine Le GrandAntoine Le GrandAntoine Le Grand was a French Recollect and Cartesian philosopher.-Life:Born in Douai, Spanish Netherlands, he was attached at an early age to the English community of St. Bonaventure's convent there, and became a Franciscan Recollect friar, and taught philosophy and divinity...
, (1629–1699) - Gottfried LeibnizGottfried LeibnizGottfried Wilhelm Leibniz was a German philosopher and mathematician. He wrote in different languages, primarily in Latin , French and German ....
, (1646–1716)12* - John LockeJohn LockeJohn Locke FRS , widely known as the Father of Liberalism, was an English philosopher and physician regarded as one of the most influential of Enlightenment thinkers. Considered one of the first of the British empiricists, following the tradition of Francis Bacon, he is equally important to social...
, (1632–1704)12
M
- Nicolas MalebrancheNicolas MalebrancheNicolas Malebranche ; was a French Oratorian and rationalist philosopher. In his works, he sought to synthesize the thought of St. Augustine and Descartes, in order to demonstrate the active role of God in every aspect of the world...
, (1638–1715)12 - Bernard de MandevilleBernard de MandevilleBernard Mandeville, or Bernard de Mandeville , was a philosopher, political economist and satirist. Born in the Netherlands, he lived most of his life in England and used English for most of his published works...
, (1670–1733)2 - Damaris Cudworth MashamDamaris Cudworth MashamDamaris Cudworth Masham was an English philosopher. She was the daughter of Cambridge Platonist philosopher Ralph Cudworth and a friend of John Locke, an English philosopher of what later came to be termed as the empiricist school...
, (1659–1708) - Baron de MontesquieuCharles de Secondat, baron de MontesquieuCharles-Louis de Secondat, baron de La Brède et de Montesquieu , generally referred to as simply Montesquieu, was a French social commentator and political thinker who lived during the Enlightenment...
(1689–1755)2 - Henry MoreHenry MoreHenry More FRS was an English philosopher of the Cambridge Platonist school.-Biography:Henry was born at Grantham and was schooled at The King's School, Grantham and at Eton College...
, (1614–1687)
N
- Isaac NewtonIsaac NewtonSir Isaac Newton PRS was an English physicist, mathematician, astronomer, natural philosopher, alchemist, and theologian, who has been "considered by many to be the greatest and most influential scientist who ever lived."...
, (1642–1727)12 - John Norris, (1657–1711)*
P
- Blaise PascalBlaise PascalBlaise Pascal , was a French mathematician, physicist, inventor, writer and Catholic philosopher. He was a child prodigy who was educated by his father, a tax collector in Rouen...
, (1623–1662)2 - Robert Joseph PothierRobert Joseph PothierRobert Joseph Pothier was a French jurist.He was born and died at Orléans, France and is buried in the Cathedral of Orleans. He studied law to qualify for the magistracy, and was appointed Judge in 1720 of the Presidial Court of Orléans, following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather...
, (1699–1772) - Samuel Pufendorf, (1632–1694)2
R
- John RayJohn RayJohn Ray was an English naturalist, sometimes referred to as the father of English natural history. Until 1670, he wrote his name as John Wray. From then on, he used 'Ray', after "having ascertained that such had been the practice of his family before him".He published important works on botany,...
, (1627–1705) - Pierre-Sylvain RegisPierre-Sylvain RégisPierre Sylvain Régis was a French Cartesian philosopher and a prominent critic of Spinoza. Although a philosopher, he was nominated to the French Academy of Sciences in 1699. -References:...
, (1632–1707) - Hermann Samuel ReimarusHermann Samuel ReimarusHermann Samuel Reimarus , was a German philosopher and writer of the Enlightenment who is remembered for his Deism, the doctrine that human reason can arrive at a knowledge of God and ethics from a study of nature and our own internal reality, thus eliminating the need for religions based on...
, (1694–1768) - Jacques RohaultJacques RohaultJacques Rohault was a French philosopher, physicist and mathematician, and a follower of Cartesianism.Rohault was born in Amiens, the son of a wealthy wine merchant, and educated in Paris. Having grown up with the conventional scholastic philosophy of his day, he adopted and popularised the new...
, (1617–1672)
S
- Anna Maria van SchurmanAnna Maria van SchurmanAnna Maria van Schurman was a German-Dutch painter, engraver, poet and scholar. She was a highly educated woman by seventeenth century standards...
, (1607–1678) - John SergeantJohn Sergeant (priest)John Sergeant was an English Roman Catholic priest, controversialist and theologian.-Life:He was son of William Sergeant, a yeoman in Barrow-upon-Humber, Lincolnshire, and was admitted in 1639 as a sub-sizar at St John's College, Cambridge, graduating in 1643...
, (1623–1704) - Anthony Ashley-Cooper, 3rd Earl of ShaftesburyAnthony Ashley-Cooper, 3rd Earl of ShaftesburyAnthony Ashley Cooper, 3rd Earl of Shaftesbury was an English politician, philosopher and writer.-Biography:...
, (1671–1713)12 - Baruch SpinozaBaruch SpinozaBaruch de Spinoza and later Benedict de Spinoza was a Dutch Jewish philosopher. Revealing considerable scientific aptitude, the breadth and importance of Spinoza's work was not fully realized until years after his death...
, (1632–1677)12 - James Dalrymple, 1st Viscount Stair, (1619–1695)
- Edward StillingfleetEdward StillingfleetEdward Stillingfleet was a British theologian and scholar. Considered an outstanding preacher as well as a strong polemical writer defending Anglicanism, Stillingfleet was known as "the beauty of holiness" for his good looks in the pulpit, and was called by John Hough "the ablest man of his...
, (1635–1699) - Gabrielle SuchonGabrielle SuchonGabrielle Suchon was a French moral philosopher and Catholic feminist.-External links:* - Further reading :* Traité de la morale et de la politique , Gabrielle Suchon ....
, (1631–1703) - Emanuel SwedenborgEmanuel Swedenborgwas a Swedish scientist, philosopher, and theologian. He has been termed a Christian mystic by some sources, including the Encyclopædia Britannica online version, and the Encyclopedia of Religion , which starts its article with the description that he was a "Swedish scientist and mystic." Others...
, (1688–1772) - Algernon SydneyAlgernon SydneyAlgernon Sidney or Sydney was an English politician, republican political theorist, colonel, and opponent of King Charles II of England, who became involved in a plot against the King and was executed for treason.-Early life:Sidney's father was Robert Sidney, 2nd Earl of Leicester, a direct...
, (1623–1683)
T
- Christian ThomasiusChristian ThomasiusChristian Thomasius was a German jurist and philosopher.- Biography :He was born at Leipzig and was educated by his father, Jakob Thomasius , at that time head master of Thomasschule zu Leipzig...
, (1655–1728) - Matthew TindalMatthew TindalMatthew Tindal was an eminent English deist author. His works, highly influential at the dawn of the Enlightenment, caused great controversy and challenged the Christian consensus of his time.-Life:...
, (1657–1733) - John TolandJohn TolandJohn Toland was a rationalist philosopher and freethinker, and occasional satirist, who wrote numerous books and pamphlets on political philosophy and philosophy of religion, which are early expressions of the philosophy of the Age of Enlightenment...
, (1670–1722)12 - Ehrenfried Walther von TschirnhausEhrenfried Walther von TschirnhausEhrenfried Walther von Tschirnhaus was a German mathematician, physicist, physician, and philosopher...
, (1651–1708) - George Turnball, (1698–1748)
V
- Giambattista VicoGiambattista VicoGiovanni Battista ' Vico or Vigo was an Italian political philosopher, rhetorician, historian, and jurist....
, (1668–1744)12 - VoltaireVoltaireFrançois-Marie Arouet , better known by the pen name Voltaire , was a French Enlightenment writer, historian and philosopher famous for his wit and for his advocacy of civil liberties, including freedom of religion, free trade and separation of church and state...
, (1694–1778)12
W
- Wang FuzhiWang FuzhiWang Fuzhi , 1619–1692) courtesy name Ernong , pseudonym Chuanshan , was a Chinese philosopher of the late Ming, early Qing dynasties.-Life:...
(or Wang Fu-Chih or Wang Chuanshan), (1619–1692) - Benjamin WhichcoteBenjamin WhichcoteBenjamin Whichcote was a British Establishment and Puritan divine, Provost of King's College, Cambridge, and leader of the Cambridge Platonists.-Life:...
, (1609–1683) - Christian WolffChristian Wolff (philosopher)Christian Wolff was a German philosopher.He was the most eminent German philosopher between Leibniz and Kant...
, (1679–1754)12 - William WollastonWilliam WollastonWilliam Wollaston was an English philosophical writer. He is remembered today for one book, which he completed only two years before his death: ....
, (1659–1724)